NZ looking forward to British & Irish Lions tour
10 July 2015
NZ looking forward to British & Irish Lions tour
Sport and Recreation Minister
Jonathan Coleman welcomes the announcement of the All Blacks
2016/2017 home schedules – featuring a 10-match tour from
the British & Irish Lions in 2017.
“Following on from
the ICC Cricket World Cup and FIFA Under 20 World Cup, sport
in New Zealand is on a high,” says Dr Coleman.
“The NZ Lions 2017 Series is another opportunity for
New Zealand to show that we are an excellent host of major
international events.
“More than 20,000 Lions
supporters visited in 2005 and the 2017 tour is expected to
attract a similar number, but visiting rugby fans won’t be
the only ones to benefit from the schedule announced by New
Zealand Rugby today.
“The economic impact of the
2005 Lions tour was felt across the country, and this looks
set to be repeated with a 10 matches to be played across New
Zealand.”
Following seven home Test matches for the All
Blacks in 2016, the 10-match Lions tour will dominate the
2017 rugby calendar.
Starting with a match in
Whangarei, the Lions will also play matches in Auckland,
Hamilton, Rotorua, Wellington, Christchurch and
Dunedin.
Other features of the schedule include a three
Test series against Wales in 2016 and a Bledisloe Cup Test
match for Dunedin in 2017.
Further details, including
ticket information, are expected to be announced towards the
end of the
year.
ends